Odessa defenseman Levin makes NCAA DI commitment

April 21, 2016

Ladder of Development: Odessa defenseman Jake Levin has gone from playing in the NAPHL last season for Omaha, to the Odessa in the NAHL this season, which culminated in his recent NCAA Division I commitment.

The Odessa Jackalopes, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are excited to announce that defenseman Jake Levin has committed to play NCAA Division I Hockey at Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey Assocation) beginning in 2017-18 season.

“The hockey program is trending up, and I wanted to be apart of it,” said Levin. “The Academy provides a great education with small class sizes, where the professors are always available to support their students.”

The Mequon, Wisconsin, native has been one of the Jacks most consistent blueliners this season in his first NAHL campaign. After beginning the year with zero goals and nine assists in his first 42 games, Levin (6’2/190) scored three times and added an assist in his final ten games for a season total of 3 goals, ten assists, 54 penalty minutes (PIM) and a plus-one rating.

Levin is also another example of a great NAPHL to NAHL to NCAA ladder of development success story. Prior to playing in the NAHL for Odessa this season, Levin spent last season (2014-15) with the Omaha AAA Hockey Club 18U team in the NAPHL. During that season, he recorded seven points in 24 regular season games and was also selected to and played in the 2015 NAPHL Top Prospects Tournament for the Central Region team.

Levin, 19, becomes the 10th member of the Jacks current roster to commit to a Division I program and will join fellow teammate Pierce Pluemer at the Academy in 2017-18.

“We are really excited for Jake and his future,” Jackalopes Head Coach Greg Gatto said. “He has continued to improve on the ice, and he’s been a great addition to our club all year.”

Air Force, who went 16-7-5 in the regular season, was eliminated in Atlantic Hockey’s final four by RIT. Levin will compete against current teammate Derek Brown, who will attend Niagara University (Atlantic Hockey) next year.